Leinster hooker Richardt Strauss has today been ruled out of the Six Nations in what will be a major blow to Declan Kidney with the tournament less than two weeks away.
By Declan Whooley
The South African-born forward has been ruled out of the entire tournament after hobbling off the pitch during Saturday’s defeat of Exeter with ankle ligament damage and is expected to be out for around 12 weeks.
The news will come as a blow to Kidney as the hooker made an impressive start to his international career during the Autumn Series and was going to pose a strong challenge to Ulster’s Rory Best for a starting berth.
Kidney has called up seven players to the training squad which will be preparing for the Six Nations and firstly the Wolfhounds match against England at the Sportsground on Friday night.
Munster quintet James Coughlan, Tommy O’Donnell, Mike Sherry, Ian Keatley and Damien Varley, plus Leinster duo Rhys Ruddock and Kevin MacLaughlin will join up with the squad at their training base at Carton House.
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